EX Installation

Guide for Python and Visual Studio Code

Step 1: Download and Install Python

Go to the Python download page
- Visit the official Python download page.
Download the appropriate installer
- Choose the correct version for your operating system:
  - Windows: .exe installer (64-bit recommended)
  - macOS: .pkg file
  - Linux: Python is often pre-installed; otherwise, install it via the package manager (apt, dnf, yum, etc.).
Start the installation
- Run the installer.
- Important: Check the box “Add Python to PATH”.
- Click “Install Now” or “Customize Installation” if you need to adjust specific settings.
Verify the installation
- Open a terminal or command prompt and enter:
```
python --version
```
- If the command does not work, restart your computer and check if Python is added to the PATH.
Check the Python Path
To find out which Python version your system is using (and where it is installed), you can follow these steps:
- Windows (Command Prompt or PowerShell). Open the Command Prompt or PowerShell (e.g., with Win + R, then type cmd or powershell and press Enter).
```
#Enter the following command:
where python
```
  You will get one or more paths, for example:
```
C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python311\python.exe
C:\Program Files\Python39\python.exe
```
  The first path listed is the Python interpreter your system uses by default.
- macOS / Linux (Terminal). Open the Terminal and enter the following command:
```
which python
# or on newer systems:
which python3
# You will see something like:
/usr/bin/python3
/opt/homebrew/bin/python3
```
  The displayed path shows the active interpreter your system is using.

Step 2: Download and Install Visual Studio Code

Go to the Visual Studio Code download page
- Visit the official VS Code download page.
Download the appropriate installer
- Choose the correct installer for your operating system:
  - Windows: .exe
  - macOS: .zip or .dmg
  - Linux: .deb or .rpm
Start the installation
- Run the installer and follow the instructions.
- Windows users: Enable the option “Add to PATH” if available.
Verify the installation
- Open a terminal or command prompt and enter:
```
code --version
```
- If VS Code starts or displays the version, the installation was successful.

Step 3: Install Extensions in Visual Studio Code

1. Install the Python extension

Open Visual Studio Code.
Open the Extensions view
- Click on the Extensions icon or press Ctrl+Shift+X.
Search for the Python extension
- Type “Python” in the search bar.
- Select the Python extension by Microsoft and click Install.

2. Install the Jupyter extension

Open the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X).
Search for the Jupyter extension
- Type “Jupyter” in the search bar.
- Select the Jupyter extension by Microsoft and install it.

3. Additional Tests After Installation

Run Python in VS Code

Open VS Code.
Create a new file test.py with the following content:
```
print("Hello, world!")
```
Press Ctrg + Alt + N or go to Run → Run Python File.

Test Jupyter Notebook

Open VS Code.
Create a new file test.ipynb.
Add a new cell and write:
```
print("Jupyter Notebook is running!")
```
Run the cell.

4. Check and Select the Python Interpreter in VS Code

After installing Python and Visual Studio Code, it’s important to make sure the correct Python interpreter is selected.

Use the Command Palette

Open VS Code.
Press Ctrl+Shift+P to open the Command Palette.
Type Python: Select Interpreter and hit Enter.
Select the interpreter you want to use (e.g. a global install, virtual environment, or Conda environment).
VS Code will remember your selection per workspace/project.

💡 Why this is powerful:

One of the biggest advantages of VS Code is that you can assign a different Python interpreter or environment per project.
This means:

Different Python versions for different projects
Clean and isolated environments (especially useful for data science or academic projects)
No interference between project dependencies